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[jcisco loboe'77]

---could not really understand Robby B and Dirk--stick w/Jessica!!---

http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/mavericks-late-show-david-letterman-top-ten
The Spoils Of Victory: Mavericks Deliver David Letterman’s Top Ten.
by Glenn Davis.|
"It’s customary for NBA, MLB, and NFL champions to make the talk show round and last night, several members of the Dallas Mavericks organization scored one of the plum gigs in talk show rounds-making: delivering the nightly Top Ten list on Late Show with David Letterman.

The topic was what you’d expect it to be (“Good Things About Winning the NBA Championship”), and the Late Show team got an impressive group of Mavericks to deliver the items, including Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Cuban, Jason Terry, Rick Carlisle, Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion, and J.J. Barea. They seemed to enjoy it, too: Nowitzki and Carlisle aren’t normally known for lighting up a room, but delivered their lines with gusto.

And while Top Ten lists are hit-or-miss, we thought this one was pretty good. We especially liked that – without giving anything away yet – some of the Mavs got list items specifically tailored to them, Cuban in particular (though Butler’s might also be interpreted that way, given he couldn’t actually play). And a note to Dirk: we’re not sure you want that."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://bleacherrepor...te-night-top-10

Dallas Mavericks Video Showcases New Champs.

"David Letterman routinely folds sports into the Late Show—he's had Danica Patrick on as part of his love for IndyCar racing, Ben Roethlisberger frequently appears (oftentimes for a shave) and he routinely has Yankees on the show.

So it's no surprise that he had the newly crowned NBA champion Dallas Mavericks on last night to deliver the nightly Top 10.

A few questions and comments:

First, who responds to the question "How does it feel to be NBA champions?" with clapping? As FunnyBot would say...AWKWARD!!

Next, I hate to rip on the guy, but they get Rodrigue Beaubois up there to read a fairly clever Hugh Hefner joke—aside from not playing a single minute this postseason, his French accent basically needed subtitles!

And it's nice to see that Tyson Chandler was enjoying himself with that Kitties joke—he doesn't have anything to look forward to in the next few months...not a ridiculously enormous contract or anything.

I do genuinely feel a little bit bad for Caron Butler here. His "Why didn't anyone tell me we won?" isn't quite as cute or funny since that knee injury kept him out of the playoffs. I guess he'll have to drown his sorrows in that $10.5 million yearly salary.

As far as Cuban's reading—"If you thought I was cocky and obnoxious before, get ready,"—there really is nothing humorous about it, so I'm not sure why Dave and the audience laughed. It's 100 percent true.

But clearly, the star of the Top 10 was the man who wrapped it up, finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki. And of all the ones read on this list, I sure hope this was the one least likely to be true.

Dirk and one of the Kardashians? Wouldn't that basically mean his career is over? Reggie Bush couldn't stay healthy, any chance of people knowing Kris Humphries for his basketball died when he started dating Kim and, as far as Lamar and Khloe...no, I won't go there."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://blogs.miamine...tch_late_sh.php

Television
Dallas Mavericks Botch "Top Ten List" on Late Show with David Letterman.
By Sebastian Del Marmol.

CBS Late Show with David Letterman.

"They embarrassed us. Then they embarrassed themselves.
​Having the Dallas Mavericks win the NBA Title probably seemed like a good idea for the rest of the country, at least for a couple of days. Heck, Dirk Nowitzki even became a household name, kind of. But the truth is, when the Miami Heat lost on Sunday, America was the biggest loser. That became painfully clear last night when the entire Mavericks team bumbled its way through announcing the "Top Ten Good Thing about Winning an NBA Championship" list on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Sour grapes? Maybe. Just more Miami arrogance? Could be. But the irrefutable truth is that the Mavs botched almost every single line. And this in their unofficial unveiling to the rest of the country. It was so embarrassing that all of Miami who watched the list couldn't help but be mortified for the Mavericks. And we've been dying for them to embarrass themselves. We hope you're happy America. Make the jump to watch some of the video, if you dare:

Not a single player, or the coach, or King Douche Owner Mark Cuban, had anything resembling a modicum of screen presence. We know they're athletes, not actors, but still. It was so painful to watch that if we had the choice we'd rather watch LeBron's fourth quarter disappearing acts on a loop rather than have to endure the list again. It gave viewers the strange sensation of watching former high school virgins talk about their first time to friends. But without any funny.

The list itself was pretty lame, but the delivery is what really sunk it. We're not sure any of the Mavs actually know how to speak English, including the American born players (and this coming from a Miami blog). Maybe the scariest thing coming from the whole thing is that Shawn Marion is rumored to be working on a reality show. Somebody in Hollywood just sh*t themselves after watching him start the list of with a dud.

But nobody was any better. Jason "Jet" Terry acted just like the turd you thought he is with his bit about being able to ask for a raise. And with all the air time Cuban gets we still can't understand why he looked like he had never seen a camera. He did have his trademark sh*t-eating grin."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.thetelegr...s/-55347--.html
Lady Mav: Roxana native lives dream as Dallas Mavericks executive.
By STEVE PORTER.
The Telegraph.

"When the Dallas Mavericks toasted their NBA championship Thursday deep in the heart of Texas, Melissa Weishaupt put herself in the middle of the celebration.

The 1991 Roxana High graduate planned it that way.

Weishaupt, 38, is in her first year as the Mavs’ marketing manager. She couldn’t have picked a better time to join them or assist in organizing the parade through Dallas.

“We’re expecting 250,000 fans for the celebration,” Weishaupt said before the event. “I’m involved in planning for the parade and we think it will be a good parade. Since I’m from the St. Louis area, one of the biggest things will be having the Clydesdales here.

“It will be a lot of fun.”

Just like the Mavs’ season. They beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals to give Dallas its first pro basketball championship. It was also the city’s first professional title since the Dallas Stars – featuring Brett Hull — in 1999.

Of course, the Cowboys are the kings of Dallas, but the Mavericks’ bandwagon is growing daily, Weishaupt said. Local sports fans opened their arms to the Mavs when the team arrived from Miami on Tuesday. Team owner Mark Cuban coordinated the festivities

“The city is crazy and everybody is excited about it,” Weishaupt said. “It’s really a good group of guys and the fans really enjoy supporting them.”

For Weishaupt, it’s an opportunity to mix with another champion. She did that in St. Louis with the Rams and in Tampa with the Bucks and the NHL Lightning. Weishaupt seems to be in the right place at the right time. She’s the daughter of Lauren and Nancy Weishaupt of Rosewood Heights.

She’s a long way from Roxana, but Weishaupt cherishes any time she can return to the River Bend to visit family and friends. She played basketball for the Shells.

“My parents used to go to games when I played basketball and I couldn’t hit a free throw,” she said.

Pat Hamm, Dan Morgan and Jeff Welker were among the Roxana High teachers who inspired her. Weishaupt went to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., and began working in local radio.

She was at The Point (105.7 FM Radio) in St. Louis, covering the Rams. Then she went to Tampa before Weishaupt landed a radio gig in Dallas five years ago. But she was a victim of cutbacks in the numbers game. Thus, Weishaupt had to re-invent herself after reporting on the Texas Rangers in the 2010 World Series.

Weishaput said, “When you get knocked down, you have to pick yourself back up again.

“That’s how crazy radio work is, so I went right from radio to public relations,” she said of her marketing position with the Mavericks. “I deal with media relations and in-game operations now.”

So the massive parade and celebration Thursday in Dallas was her baby and she embraced the responsibility. After years of moving around, Weishaupt figures she has found a home in Dallas.

“My job has kept taking me from one place to another, but I hope this is a long-term deal here,” she said. “It’s hard to keep moving from city to city.”

She seems to have forged a bond with Mavs’ fans. “I compare Mavericks fans to St. Louis Blues’ fans,” Weishaupt said. “They are die-hard and very loyal.”

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.publicbro....Through.Dallas
North Texas
Mavs Parade Rolls Through Dallas.
Bill Zeeble, KERA News

DALLAS, TX (KERA)-"Amid daily news about war, terrorism, the economy, and lost jobs, the Dallas Mavs victory parade offered an outlet for pure, ecstatic joy. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more on the event that drew some 200,000 fans.

Thursday was another sunny, sweaty, 100 degree day. It was loud and jam-packed along the mile and half parade route. But the crowds chose to be here for one reason. To cheer their world championship Mavericks basketball players.

Long time Mavs fan Stephen Smith has followed the team for most of his life.

Smith: I go back to the real Triple J - Jimmy Jackson, Jamal Mashburn, Jason Kidd, the original Triple J.

Smith says he was unfazed when he realized the Mavs would face the Miami Heat, known for its three superstars. His confidence in the Mavs grew.


Smith: They have a better team. Teamwork & intelligence always beats athletes. You've got 3 athletes matched against a whole team, team's going to win every time.

Joseph Chatman and his girlfriend Tybrena Bryant weren't so sure. Chatman joked he experienced 6, no 7 heart attacks through the finals, the games were so close, so often. Chatman's girlfriend says he's also superstitious.

Tybrena Bryant: He's not telling you the whole story. Check this out, he hadn't cut his hair the whole season. Wouldn't cut it. he had this baby "fro" and Rip Van Winkle thing going on. He wouldn cut it. The night we played Portland and blew that 23 point lead. He was going to meet my dad, so I made him cut his hair. And we lost that night. So the whole two weeks it was my fault we lost to Portland. After that he didn't' cut his hair anymore 'till after we won. He got the trophy cut in his head. Die-hard fan.

Inside the arena, more die-hard fans cheered the players and head coach Rick Carlisle. In his over-the-top comments welcomed in this enthusiastic house, he praised Dirk Nowitzki as the best player on the planet, and his team as the best in the world. He also remembered the fans.

Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle: One thing I learned early on. In this city you never play for 2nd place. You play to be the best. And the city of Dallas holds their champions in extremely high esteem and these guys have earned every ounce of respect that goes with that, and I know they appreciate and I appreciate it.

The 18,000 or so season ticket holders inside the arena also heard from Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler, Jason Terry and the other stars. The chants and cheers welled up again for the Playoff's Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki.


Dirk Nowitzki: It's been an amazing ride, amazing journey, I was lucky enough to spend 13 years with the greatest fans of the NBA. Lots of ups and lots of downs. This is the top of the iceberg and it feels absolutely amazing.

And for a while, everyone here felt the same way. Nowitzki celebrates his 33rd birthday Sunday."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.mediabist...ede-book_b32549
Dirk Nowitzki Stars in New Dallas Mavericks Book.
By Maryann Yin.

"Triumph Books has released Mavericks Stampede: Dirk Leads Dallas to the 2011 NBA Championship by Rob Mahoney.

This book drops days after the Dallas Mavericks won the 2011 National Basketball Association finals. The eBook costs $9.99 and a print copy costs $14.95. Mahoney runs The Two Man Game, an ESPN blog dedicated to the Dallas Mavericks.

Here’s more from the release: “The Mavs were led by Dirk Nowitzki, one of the league’s most underappreciated superstars. The hard-working German forward and his veteran supporting cast-including Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, and Shawn Marion-executed coach Rick Carlisle‘s game plan nearly flawlessly in rolling to a well-deserved title. Packed with stunning color photography, this championship commemorative details every game of the thrilling postseason and profiles the Mavericks’ leading personalities, including Nowitzki, Terry, Carlisle, and colorful owner Mark Cuban.”

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.time.com/...2078268,00.html
Keeping Score
The Mavs' Big Winner: Mark Cuban's New Image.
By Sean Gregory.

"Whiner. Before this year's NBA playoffs, that would have been one of the first words that came to mind, for many people, if someone mentioned Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. After all, this is the guy who has racked up around $1.7 million in fines over the last decade for criticizing the league and its referees. Go ahead and Google it. "Mark Cuban and Whiner." You'll only see 533,000 results.

Another insult frequently directed at Cuban was baby. During the 2009 Western Conference semifinals, after Cuban told the mother of Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin that his son was a "punk" and "thug," a Nuggets fan held up a poster of Cuban's head attached to a baby holding a bottle.

After all the years of derision, Cuban has become used to the name-calling. Over the past few days, however, he's been referred to in very different ways; winner, for instance, and even classy. Oh, and all the while, he's been busy cradling the NBA championship trophy. Like it's his baby.

In fact, it's hard to think of a sports executive who's transformed his image, in as short a time, as Mark Cuban.

Most sports fans could always find some reason to at least grudgingly respect Cuban; in 1999, he sold his internet radio business to Yahoo! for $5.9 billion in stock. He injected life into a horrid basketball team. Since Cuban bought the Mavs in January of 2000, the team has reached the playoffs in each of the 11 full seasons of his tenure. Prior to his arrival, Dallas had missed the playoffs for nine straight years.

But he has always been hard to like, or root for. He's cocky, brash, and incessantly griping, whether to the media or directly to the refs on the floor. He's also been way overexposed. At games, you couldn't miss him, sitting courtside in jeans and T-shirt, exhorting his players as if he was their coach, or one of them. And Cuban briefly had his own reality show, called The Benefactor, in which 16 aspiring entrepreneurs competed for a $1 million prize from the Dallas owner. It flopped, worse than any NBA player Cuban has accused of faking fouls."

Then came this year's playoffs. After Dallas knocked off the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, Cuban decided to stay mum during Dallas' second round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. It was quite a departure. He had dissed Lakers forward Ron Artest back in March. "Anything that puts the ball in Ron Artest's hands is always a good thing," Cuban said. For years, Cuban has been publicly jawing with then Lakers coach Phil Jackson. In January, he called Jackson "Jeanie Buss' boy-toy," referring to Jackson's romantic relationship with Buss, the team's vice president of business operations, and daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss.

"I knew the questions everyone was going to ask," Cuban explained after Dallas knocked off the Heat last Sunday night to the post-game press. "They were going to ask me about my repartee with Phil Jackson and the things I said about Ron Artest. I didn't want to get in the middle of a back-and-forth about that."

Then a funny thing happened: while Cuban kept quiet, the Mavericks kept winning, sweeping the Lakers in commanding, shocking fashion. Next up, in the Western Conference Finals, was the young, surging Oklahoma City Thunder, and Cuban knew the media wanted to inject him into the storyline. Cuban had been one of only two owners who opposed the relocation of the Seattle Sonics to Oklahoma City in 2008, since Dallas and the Oklahoma capital are only some 200 miles apart. Cuban knew he'd receive questions about his opposition, so he shut up again. The Mavs won the series in five games.
(See 10 big stories to follow in the NBA this season.)

At this point, Cuban would have been an idiot to act like he did during the Mavs' 2006 Finals loss to the Heat, when his rants against the refs — though understandable, since the officiating in that series was atrocious — became a sideshow. "It didn't make sense to say anything," Cuban says to the press. "The quieter I got, the more we won. I didn't want to break the karma."

Give the man credit. It wasn't easy for a carnival barker like Cuban to remain low-key during the Finals, when the world's attention was focused on his team (this year's Game 6. for example, notched the highest rating for a Game 6 in 11 years). And though Dallas may well have still beaten Miami if Cuban had been a distraction, it certainly made it easier for the Mavs that he wasn't.

And after Dallas clinched, Cuban made the classiest (there's that word) public move of his career. On a stage in Miami, he stepped aside to let Donald Carter, the team's founding owner, and the man most responsible for bringing an NBA franchise to the Metroplex in 1980, accept the championship trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern. "He's become the owner I always wanted him to become because of his love for the game," Carter said afterwards. "He played it just right."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://bleacherrepor...hampionship-run

NBA Finals 2011: The Top 5 Games of the Dallas Mavericks' Championship Run.
By Sid Venkatraman.


Jason Terry's tattoo became reality.

"For the Dallas Mavericks, the 2011 NBA Playoffs was a roller-coaster ride that ended in the best possible way: an NBA title.

At the start of these playoffs, the Mavericks weren't projected even to get near the NBA Finals, with some picking Dallas to be upset by their first-round opponents, the Portland Trail Blazers.

Even after Dallas prevailed, no one gave them so much as a chance against the two-time defending champs, the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the Mavs would go on to sweep the Lakers in a very convincing fashion.

But skeptics still doubted Dallas's ability to keep up their high level of play against the younger, more athletic teams of Oklahoma City and Miami.

Yet Dirk Nowitzki and company would continue to prove the doubters wrong, eventually getting the ring that the franchise had been craving for the past decade.

Throughout the playoffs, the Mavericks were a resilient team that fought for the whole 48 minutes. Time and time again, Dallas would be down in the fourth quarter, only to fight their way back as the game came down to the wire.

In clutch situations, the veterans on this Mavs team showed that they weren't afraid of the moment with their ability to close out games. This only made Mavericks' games more exciting and fun to watch.

A huge run was waiting to happen.

Lets take a look at the top five games of the Mavs' run to the championship in 2011."


5. Game 6 @ Portland.
"The Dallas Mavericks' win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 6 would allow them to make it past the first round for only the second time in five years.

This wasn't one of the Mavs' epic fourth-quarter comebacks, but this game almost saw them give one up.

Prior to this game, Dallas had not shown their ability to win on the road, the team's having lost its first two games at the Rose Garden in the first round. Game 4 was a memorable loss since the Mavs would collapse in the fourth quarter, blowing a 23-point lead.

Coming into Game 6 in Portland, the Mavericks needed to show their mental toughness by overcoming their devastating loss in Game 4 and closing out the series on the road. Dallas would yet again have a large lead but let Portland make another big run to get back in the game.

However, this time around the Mavs didn't collapse and closed out the game with clutch baskets from Jason Kidd and Jason Terry.

This big win on the road would give Mavericks fans a sigh of relief as they didn't have to go through another year of seeing Dallas make a first-round exit.

The performance and veteran experience Dallas showed on the road would only mark the beginning of the success for Dirk Nowitzki and his teammates."

4. Game 1 @ Los Angeles
"Only four days after the Dallas Mavericks had finally won a road game in the postseason, they had to head up to Los Angeles to play the Lakers in Game 1 of the second round.

This matchup would be the Mavs' first real test of whether they could contend with championship teams and had what it takes to win a title.

Coming into this game, Dallas was hoping for at least a split to start the first two games of the series, so stealing the first game was key for the Mavs to put themselves in a good position.

The Game 1 matchup in Los Angeles was the first time the Mavericks found themselves in a huge hole in a postseason game, as they were down by as many as 16 points during the third quarter.

Coach Rick Carlisle made some adjustments, going with a smaller and quicker lineup to speed up the pace of the game. This gutsy decision would spark a 20-6 run that got Dallas back in this game.
Kobe Bryant had a spectacular performance, scoring 39 points and keeping the Lakers ahead for most of the second half. At the end of the game, however, clutch shooting from Dirk Nowitzki and excellent defense on Bryant from Jason Kidd would allow the Mavericks to get their first lead of the half with less than a minute to go.

Dallas would go on to take a 1-0 series lead on the road, which set the tone for the rest of the series.

The win showed that the 2011 Dallas Mavericks were a different team from years past and demonstrated their resilience in coming back from a huge deficit on the road."



3. Game 4 @ Oklahoma City
"Again on the road, The Dallas Mavericks would show their grittiness and heart in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder as they mounted a comeback bigger than anyone would've imagined.

For the first 43 minutes of this game, the Thunder looked like the hungrier team, one that came to play in order to even up the series at 2-2.

With the score being 99-84 with a little over four minutes left in the game, fans were thinking that the game was settled as it seemed as though Russel Westbrook and Kevin Durant could not be stopped.

What people were forgetting about the Dallas Mavericks was two words:

Dirk Nowitzki.

His team down by 15 points, Nowitzki took control during the last four minutes, scoring 12 points and forcing overtime by hitting two clutch free throws with six seconds remaining in regulation.

Shawn Marion and Jason Kidd were both superb on defense down the stretch, not allowing Kevin Durant to get in any rhythm during the Mavs' 17-2 run.

With the momentum on their side, the Mavericks would go on to win in overtime and cap off one of the biggest comebacks in NBA History.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 40 points and showed yet again why he is one of the elite players in the NBA.

Mavericks fans had to feel great about winning in such a hostile environment and the fact that a trip to the finals was in their grasp."




2. Game 2 @ Miami
"If you thought the Game 4 comeback vs. the Thunder was the last of the miracles for the Dallas Mavericks, then you thought wrong.

Believe it or not, the Mavs found themselves looking at a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter again, this time in Miami.

The "Big Three" were looking every bit of what they said they would be last summer as their star power and talent looked like it was too much for the old Mavericks team to handle. The Mavs were in danger of being down 0-2 in the NBA Finals and needed to come away with another big run late in the game.

After Dwyane Wade hit a corner three to put the Heat up 88-73, the Mavericks would do just that.

Jason Terry scored eight points and Dirk Nowitzki scored the final nine points for Dallas during their 22-5 run to finish the game.

Once again, excellent defense forced LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to take the type of tough shots they aren't comfortable taking.

The Mavericks also turned the switch on offensively and had excellent ball movement, finding good shots. With the score tied at 90, Dirk Nowitzki made a huge three-pointer to give the Mavs the lead.

Mario Chalmers would proceed to tie the game with a wide open three off a Dallas defensive breakdown, but once again it was Dirk coming up big by hitting the game-winning layup.

All of South Beach was stunned while the rest of America was cheering for the Mavericks' huge 95-93 comeback victory. This win officially earned them the nickname, "The Miracle Mavs."


1. Game 6 @ Miami
"Yeah I know, this game wasn't one of those fourth-quarter comebacks.

But what game was better for the Mavericks than the one that won them the NBA Title?

Ever since the beginning of the Dirk Nowitzki era, Mavs fans had hoped that the Larry O'Brien Trophy would one day come to the city of Dallas. The victory over the Miami Heat in Game 6 clinched the title and allowed Mark Cuban's Mavericks to hoist up that trophy.

Dallas controlled this game for the most part during the second half and didn't allow for the Big Three to make any late-game comeback. The Mavs proved that it takes teamwork to win championships, not star-studded squads.

All the demons from the past—namely those from the 2006 NBA Finals—were officially exorcised.

Both Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, who had already had hall-of-fame careers, cemented their places as all-time greats.

Coach Rick Carlisle, Jason Terry, and Shawn Marion, who had all come short of the title in the past, as well as the rest of the veterans finally got the rings they had deserved for so long. Dirk Nowitzki finally got to remove the label of "soft" by winning the NBA Finals MVP award.

Mavericks fans can now celebrate because all the disappointments and failures from the past are behind them."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://bleacherrepor...eeded-to-reload
NBA Finals 2011: Dallas Mavericks, Tyson Chandler and 10 Moves To Reload.
By Ian Hanford.


"The Dallas Mavericks became the 2011 NBA Champions on Sunday night.

Heading into the offseason, the Mavericks will do their best to retain the key pieces to this year's championship team, and also to bring in some new faces.

Despite the championship, the Mavericks have to make sure the same attitude is brought by the team for next season, and the core of this current team will make sure of that.

Here are 10 things Dallas needs to do in order to reload for next season:"


Draft Nolan Smith.

"Nolan Smith's leadership and winning attitude would make him a great fit for the newest NBA champions.

Smith may not possess superior athleticism, but he is a smart player who knows how to make the plays required to compete.

He is a solid defender and will keep opponents honest from behind the arc.

Drafting Smith would allow him to learn the tricks of the trade under Jason Kidd; he could also potentially get minutes at shooting guard if need be.

Smith will be a great locker room presence at the next level, and will be the "glue" guy that every team needs to succeed."



Re-sign Caron Butler
"Caron Butler's injury didn't hurt the Mavericks in terms of winning a title, but the addition of Butler back into the playing rotation would certainly help the Mavericks.

Butler is set to become a free agent, but Dallas really needs to look into bringing the UConn product back to the Lone Star State.

On offense, Butler has a solid skill-set and brings another athlete into the mix. On defense, Butler has the size to defend multiple positions and to also contribute on the glass.

The core of this team staying together is going to be a recurring theme here; Butler is a major piece of that core when he is healthy."





Re-sign Jose Juan Barea.
"Jose Juan Barea has had the benefit of learning under future hall of famer Jason Kidd.

Barea continued to develop and improve his game while earning more and more minutes as the season and the playoffs wore on.

Barea may not wow anyone with his skills, but his gritty attitude and smart play makes up for his lack of size and athleticism.

He is a perfect catalyst for an offense, especially one he is already familiar with.

With Jason Kidd set to become a free agent after next season, Barea's role and development will continue to be very important for Dallas moving forward."



Re-sign Tyson Chandler
"Tyson Chandler does the dirty work in the paint as well as any center in the league.

He is also set to become a free agent this offseason.

Dallas should be doing everything in its power to make sure Chandler remains in Dallas as a tenacious defensive stopper and rebounder.

Every team needs players with energy and size down low; Chandler brings both of these elements to the court.

He is a threat on the offensive end, but his forte is hitting the glass and swatting opposing players' shots away from the basket.

Chandler is another member of the core players for Dallas. It will be very important to retain him for the sake of chemistry and defensive production."


Sign Aaron Brooks
"Aaron Brooks can be a very dangerous scorer at times.
However, his ego can get in his way—and could get in the way of Dallas pursuing him this offseason.
Brooks could give Dallas another option in the backcourt, and add another perimeter threat on offense.
If Peja Stojakovic is not re-signed, which we will get to later, Brooks could provide instant offense off the bench.
The key is getting Brooks to understand the importance of being a great bench player.
I have mentioned keeping the core together, and I am not big on the Mavericks pursuing any big free agents this offseason, but a player like Brooks could give the Mavericks an even bigger scoring punch."

Let DeShawn Stevenson Walk
"DeShawn Stevenson is set to be a free agent this offseason. Dallas should let it stay that way.
Stevenson has not contributed enough in Dallas to overshadow some of the remarks he made to the media.
He did receive minutes off the bench, and he does play solid defense at times, but Stevenson's job could be done by a number of other players around the league.
Bottom line, Dallas will have to let a few pending free agents walk away.
I think Stevenson should be one of them. There is no reason to let him block the development of a younger player or a new draft pick."


Let Peja Stojakovic Walk As Well
"Peja Stojakovic is an electric perimeter-shooter when he is on.
He is also, like Stevenson, a free agent this offseason.
Considering his age (34) and his role on the Mavericks team, he can be replaced.
As mentioned before, there are free agents available who can fill the sharpshooting role off the bench.
Stojakovic is a valuable asset to the Mavericks, but management will have to pick and choose who they want to bring back next season.
Next season looks to be a big year for free agents and player movement; Dallas will need all the money they can get if they want to make a big splash.
Which leads us to the next topic..."


Prepare To Pursue Deron Williams
"Deron Williams is set to be a major target of several teams after next season.
A true point guard who can do it all on offense, Williams is the type of player teams can build a franchise around.
Do not be surprised if Dallas makes a run at Williams before all is said and done.
Yes, Jose Barea has developed, but Jason Kidd is getting older and Williams is a talent you just can't pass up.
Considering he is from the Dallas area, and Mark Cuban is an owner who loves to make a big splash, Williams being in Dallas in 2012 would not surprise me in the least."


Add Keith Benson in Second Round of NBA Draft
"Coming out of Oakland University, Keith Benson is a talented post player.
He has an array of post moves and can hit jump shots out until the fifteen-foot range.
While he does still lack prowess on defense, Benson could come into the perfect situation in Dallas.
If Dallas re-signs Tyson Chandler and has Brendan Haywood back on the bench, the Mavericks have all the post defense they need.
Benson would add another dimension to the Mavericks offense as a back-to-the-basket center who can score around the rim.
The new offensive threat would give Dirk Nowitzki more freedom to leave the post and roam, and would allow Chandler to concentrate on defense."



Develop Dominique Jones
"Dominique Jones has the potential to be a reliable scorer in the NBA.
Averaging a little over two points per game this season, Jones was buried deep in an experienced Mavericks rotation.
A first-round pick in 2010, Jones has the ability to produce and improve if given the chance to do so.
The defections of DeShawn Stevenson and Peja Stojakovic could give the younger Jones a chance to prove himself.
Dallas will have enough consistency to be able to toy with a project in Jones—and with the possible upside, it is worth it.
If Jones develops, he will give Dallas another offensive threat and make this team look a lot younger."


Remain Focused
"Amid all the hoopla of winning an NBA title, it is very important for the team to remain focused on its goals for next season.
At some point over the offseason, Dallas will need to put this title behind them and focus on defending their crown next season.
While this is not a "move," it will be as important as any acquisition or departure.
Dallas will have a target on their backs this offseason—and all through next season.
How they respond to that new pressure will be a major factor in how the Mavericks play next year.
Maintaining focus and keeping the core of this championship team together could possibly be the most important task at hand for Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.slamonlin...gs-for-the-mavs
Mark Cuban: No Championship Rings for the Mavs.

"Mark Cuban has yet to reveal exactly what he’ll do to break away from the tradition of giving everyone in the organization championship rings...

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/06/dallas-mavericks-want-their-championship-rings
Dallas Mavericks Want Their Championship Rings.

"Mark Cuban seems to be the only person in the Mavs’ organization who’s against title rings; everyone else wants that piece of gaudy jewelry on their finger next season. From the AP: “We’ve got to talk to him about that,’ said Dirk Nowitzki, the Finals MVP. ‘I don’t think the last word has been spoken yet. We know he always wants to do something different, something bigger. But the ring is just so classic. I think I would vote for a ring. I mean, I’m a man. I don’t know how I’d feel about a bracelet.’ Donnie Nelson, the president of basketball operations, even made a bold offer. ‘I’ll pay for them,’ he said. ‘Now, they might have to be plastic.’ … Jason Kidd, the team’s elder statesman at 38, jokingly took offense to Cuban calling the concept of rings old-fashioned. ‘I’m old-fashioned,’ Kidd said … ‘As a player and a historian of the game, you want the ring,’ Terry said. ‘You look at the Sports Illustrated cover of Bill Russell holding those rings. You’ve seen Phil Jackson’s rings. You want that ring. That means a lot. That’s a thing you can go to your grave with.’ … ‘I don’t know what he’s thinking,’ Carlisle said, laughing. ‘You win an NBA championship, you’ve got to have a ring.’”

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/740223-2011-nba-playoffs-ranking-the-top-5-games-of-dallas-mavericks-championship-run#/articles/733527-5-things-mark-cuban-can-get-the-mavs-for-winning-the-nba-title-besides-a-ring
NBA Finals 2011: 5 Things Mark Cuban Can Get the Mavericks Besides a Ring.
By Jordan Clarke.
While being interviewed during NBA TV's postgame show by host Matt Winer, Mark Cuban, owner of the Mavericks, was asked just how big of a ring he was planning to get for his players. Cuban responded:

"I'll tell you something, I might not get rings. Rings are old school."

So what would be an appropriate gift for the Mavericks or any team? Let's find out."



Championship Belts
"Yes, championship belts are a little flashy, but everything is big in Texas. Seen most recently in the big four sports by Green Bay Packer Aaron Rodgers after winning the Super Bowl, a championship belt is the ultimate announcement that yes, you have arrived, and no, you won't be flying or swimming with it on anytime soon."



Chalice
"Damn the Stanley Cup. What professional athletes really need to start pimping is a chalice. What baller in their right mind would not want to have a chalice?

Not only would a small one be good to display on a shelf at home, but could you imagine going out on the town with a chalice? It has all the things you want in an award—sleek, multipurpose (holding food or liquids) and, you have to admit, the perfect accompaniment to a ring and a big turkey leg."


Sword
"Well, since the Mavs did slay the King—why wouldn't they want matching swords? I mean, let's think about this for a second. The sword could be engraved with the final score of every team they beat in the deciding game of the playoffs—Portland, LA, Oklahoma City, Miami. Like the Highlander: There can be only one...

Honorable mention in this category goes to battle axe."





Crown
"Well, LeBron James hasn't earned his, so there should be plenty to pass around. A crown represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, honor and glory.

While we're at it, Cuban should give each player a throne, some subjects and enough Dairy Queen Blizzards to give the state of Texas a case of lactose intolerance."




Championship Flag Plant
"Consider Michigan State vs. Notre Dame from a few years back, in 2005. How great would it be for championship teams to be legally allowed to plant a flag outside the stadium of the team they just owned?

Kids nowadays don't have time to read history, so I propose visible representations of a team's ineptitude. Probably wouldn't work as well with the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Braves.

Honorable mention: random pirate booty."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://bleacherrepor...-nba-finals-win
2011 NBA Playoffs: Dallas Mavericks Find Redemption in NBA Finals Win.
By LaMar Gafford.



"A decade of frustration—GONE.

The Dallas Mavericks finally celebrated their first title in team history when beat the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals, 4-2.

For NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki. He was the consistent factor for the Mavericks throughout the 2000s.

He helped Dallas achieve its greatest success since the mid-to-late 1980s, but the team was criticized for being soft and lacking on the defensive end.

The Mavericks endured their best seasons in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, but ended the seasons in heartbreaking fashion.

They lost the in the 2006 Finals to the Heat after holding a 2-0 lead and were upset by the Golden State Warriors in the 2007 Western Conference Quarterfinals after having the best record and Nowitzki winning the MVP with good players like Jason Terry helping him.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle joined the team in 2008, but felt the pain that Nowitzki and Terry went through before this point.

“Dirk and Jet (Jason Terry) have had to live with those demons for five years,” Carlisle said. “And as of tonight, those demons are officially destroyed.”

All because of those past failures like these, few expected Dallas to get to this point. Some even tabbed the Mavericks as the upset pick in their first-round matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.

“The whole world was telling us we were the one-and-done boys,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said. “That we were going to get knocked out in the first round. This team had so much heart, so much determination and so much fortitude that you know what, I love every one of them.”

With that drive, Dallas battled throughout the playoffs.

The team shook off an embarrassing 23-point collapse in Game 4 of the Portland series to win in six games. They then swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the West Semifinals and beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West Finals in five games to return to the NBA Finals.

The Mavericks gained respect, but Miami would be the favorite heading in to the Finals.

The Heat took care of Dallas in Game 1 with a 92-84 win and were seven minutes from holding a 2-0 lead until Dallas stormed back from 15 down to tie up the series as the Finals shifted to Dallas.

Miami took Game 3, but Carlisle made adjustments such as starting JJ Barea and putting Brian Cardinal and Ian Mahinmi in the rotation. Those moves and Nowitzki having help in scoring allowed the Mavericks to win three straight to take the Finals.

The win finally gave players like Nowitzki and Terry the redemption and the ring they have longed for. Along with that, so are the nightmares of years past."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://bleacherrepor...als-of-all-time

NBA Draft: The 12 Greatest NBA Draft Steals of All-Time.
By Bleacher Report Productions(Senior Writer.)

"Jimmer Fredette, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams and Kemba Walker will all be drafted to play in the NBA. Each will have his name forever associated with the 2011 NBA Draft. But we won’t know who’s a steal, and who’s a bust for years to come.

Did your team just pick a winner, or did you just miss out on the next big thing?

Cleveland has a chance to rebuild, post-"The Decision." Toronto, Detroit and Minnesota are all looking for a chance to get back to being relevant. GMs have a chance to change their franchise’s future (both good and bad) and make a name for themselves (also good and bad).

In a world full of negativity, it’s easy to remember Joe Dumars botching his pick with the Darko decision. The Kandi man is still a joke of a pick. And Adam Morrison—well, at least he was good in college.

What gets less publicity is all the picks that worked out. The guys who star and succeed in the league, but we forget weren’t selected so high.

Everyone knows Manu Ginobili is great, but do you realize he was drafted so late? Dirk just won a ring, and he barely cracked the top 10.

Take a look as we rank the NBA’s biggest draft steals, and find out how some of the all-time greats were disrespected and passed over. Anyone else we forgot?"

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://bleacherrepor...the-last-decade
NBA Draft: The 30 Worst Draft Picks of the Last Decade.
By Adam Fromal.

"With the 2011 NBA draft on June 23rd quickly approaching, it's time to remember that not every pick is a good one and look back upon the worst draft selections of the last decade.

Don't worry, whether we're talking about Greg Oden, Darko Milicic, Marcus Fizer or some other player, each team has had its fair share of mistakes on draft day.

Sometimes a good choice was made but unfortunate injuries shorten and dramatically alter the player's career. Other times, the player drafted just simply isn't any good.

In this time of optimism, it's important to remember that while the glass can be half full, it can't be three-quarters full. Be realistic with your expectations, because sometimes the draft picks can come back to burn you, assuming, of course, that the glass had hot water in it.

So, without further ado, read on for the 30 worst draft picks of the last decade."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.kegl.com/...article=8748640

kegl.com.
Mark Cuban's response to 'Bad Management' Suit.

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.cbssports...748484/30222506
Dallas Mavericks: none. Grade: I. The Mavericks drafted Rudy Fernandez. So that's pretty good, I guess, but we're still not going to grade them on this "draft." Not that they needed a draft. What with being the champs and Dirk being "that dude" and all.



How bout Dallas & Rudy Fernandez.
Looks like Peja Stojakovic won't be back as a reserve.
Traded, Part of three team deal.

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=6698707
Mavs trade picks for Rudy Fernandez.
ESPNDallas.com.

DALLAS--"The Dallas Mavericks are already gearing up to defend their title, trading both their draft picks Thursday night to get Portland Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez.

"So happy to be in the best team in the nba!!!dallas!!!" Fernandez tweeted.

The deal was arranged before the Mavericks were on the clock with their first selection at No. 26, sources had confirmed to ESPN.com senior NBA writer Marc Stein.

Getting Rudy Fernandez from the Blazers carries little risk for a contending team like the Mavericks, Tim MacMahon writes.

Fernandez has spent his three NBA seasons in Portland. Only 26, he's also been a standout in international play. He could step in as Dallas' starting shooting guard or become another piece in a deep, versatile rotation.

"We're in a playoff-championship push mode," said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks' president of basketball operations. "We think the player we acquired is going to help us more than the pick would."

Dallas spent the 26th pick on Jordan Hamilton and the 57th pick on Targuy Ngombo. Hamilton went to Denver and Ngombo to Portland in a deal that also involved a swap of Trail Blazers point guard Andre Miller for the Nuggets' Raymond Felton.

The Mavericks also picked up the rights to Petteri Koponen, who is playing in Europe. A point guard from Finland, he's spent three years with Virtus Bologna in Italy.

"Rudy is an athletic, young, exciting player with significant upside," Nelson said in a statement. "His international and postseason experience will prove to be very valuable. Petteri is a young combo guard who was a first-round selection in 2007 and is developing nicely in Europe."

Fernandez has been a backup most of his NBA career. He's averaged 9.1 points over 24.1 minutes in 218 games.

His role in Dallas remains to be determined, but his age and experience make for a nice fit -- especially compared to an unpolished product.

"The balance is a player that's a young one vs. one that's been in the league a few years and can help us right away," Nelson said.

Nelson said this deal had been discussed for a while, heating up in the last few days.

"This was our 'A' scenario," he said.

Shooting guard was an erratic spot for Dallas this past season.

DeShawn Stevenson drew most of the starts in the regular season, then gave way to Rodrigue Beaubois, whom the team was expecting to have a breakout year. But he had trouble recovering from a broken foot and missed time, and Stevenson regained the job in the finale. He started every postseason game until Game 4 of the NBA finals, when backup point guard J.J. Barea took over.

Stevenson is a free agent. So is Peja Stojakovic, another role player whose best skills could be replaced by Fernandez.

Beaubois will be back next season and may get another chance to start. Fernandez could push him for the job or be part of Dallas' bench. Jason Terry already is their primary shooting guard.

This past season, Fernandez averaged 8.6 points in the regular season but scored only 2.8 per game in a first-round series against the Mavericks. He made only 4 of 18 shots."

Information from ESPN.com's Marc Stein, ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon and The Associated Press was used in this report.


Dallas 2011 Drafts.
26. i-Dallas, Jordan Hamilton, f, Texas.
i-Dallas traded the rights to F Jordan Hamilton (No. 26 pick) to Denver.

57. Dallas Mavericks: Targuy Ngombo.
k-Dallas traded the rights to F Tanguy Ngombo (No. 57 pick) to Portland.

The Mavericks also picked up the rights to Petteri Koponen.

[Super B]

Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

[lorenzo]

sorry jcisco....i wanted so bad to post here while the mavs were in the finals. but my superstition wouldn't let me. I was all over this win they were in the finals in 06 and thought they were on their way to a sweep and then the wheels fell off. clearly a different team....this one was mentally stable and not full of youth like that one was. to me that was the difference. this team played with desperation, confidence, and clearly had the killer instict that no other team in the NBA could match. finally dirk nowitzki is getting the respect of being the best 4th quarter player in the league. you can't argue when he topped aldridge, kobe, durant/westbrook, lebron/wade all of them in the 4th quarters. and did not have another all star on his team. we have not seen that since michael and hakeem. no joke.

next season they have to have chandler back. it would be nice to keep butler and barea. but with roddy b you can lose barea. butler would be icing on the cake and almost like signing a FA when you factor that the guy didn't play much at all last year. But no chandler equals no chance at a repeat. he is a monster defensively and is the prime reasoning behind aldridge, gasol, and bosh being no factors. pairing chandler and dirk is a great thing and is a nighmare for people at both ends. lebron couldn't live in the paint because of it and no one could keep dirk out of the paint either.

[Super B]

Yea!